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COVID-19 Transmission to Health Care Personnel During Tracheostomy Under a Multidisciplinary Safety Protocol

Taylor C Standiford1, Janice L Farlow2, Michael J Brenner3

  • 1Taylor C. Standiford is a second-year resident, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco.

American Journal of Critical Care : an Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
|August 11, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Healthcare workers performing tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients had a low infection rate when following a multidisciplinary safety protocol. The study highlights the protocol

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Surgical Safety

Background:

  • Tracheostomies are high-risk aerosol-generating procedures, particularly for patients with COVID-19 requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.
  • Limited data exists on the safety and adherence to protocols for tracheostomies in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the COVID-19 infection rate among healthcare personnel (HCP) performing tracheostomies on COVID-19 positive patients.
  • To evaluate HCP attitudes towards the safety protocol and identify areas for improvement.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was administered to all HCP involved in tracheostomies of COVID-19 patients between April and July 2020.
  • The survey assessed infection status, protocol adherence, and safety perceptions.

Main Results:

  • Of 107 respondents, 5 reported COVID-19 infection or symptoms within 21 days of the procedure.
  • 100% reported adherence to personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines.
  • Most HCP felt safe and familiar with the protocol, suggesting dedicated teams and enhanced PPE options.

Conclusions:

  • Multidisciplinary involvement in developing and implementing COVID-19 tracheostomy protocols ensures acceptable safety for the care team.
  • The established protocol demonstrated effectiveness in protecting healthcare workers during these high-risk procedures.
Abstract

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